Machine for applying covers to dishes



March 11, 1958 .1. E. ANNI-:N 2,826,026 v MACHINE FOR APPLYING CGVERS TODISHES I Filed Feb. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z g j i IN V EN TOR.cfa/2765 f. /7/7/76/2 nyc@ March 11, 1958 J. E. ANNEN MACHINE FORAPPLYING COVERS TO DISHES Filed Febv. l0. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March11, v1958 J. E. ANNI-:N

MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO DISHES Filed Feb. l0, 1956 3 sheets-sheets 7, if] G. Ja E' INVENTOR.y fd/W55 /7/7/73/7 A www@ United StatesPatent MACHINE FOR APPLYING CUVERS T0 DISHES James E. Annen, Kalamazoo,Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application February 10, 1956, Serial No.564,673

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-351) This invention relates to a machine for applyingcovers to dishes, particularly lled dishes.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine adapted for applying oovers to dishes inwhich both the dishes and the covers are formed of thin metal stock andwithout crushing or crumpling the dishes.

Second, to provide a machine for applying covers to dishes which isautomatic in its operation with the exception of positioning the dishwith a cover superimposed thereon and a one stroke actuation of thecover securing means.

Third, to provide a machine for applying covers having downturned angesto dishes having outwardly projecting rims in which the cover is appliedand its anges wrapped around the rim of the dish in a uniform mannerthroughout the circumference of the dish and at a single stroke of themachine.

Fourth, to provide a machine having these advantages which is adaptedfor covering dishes varying substantially in height.

Fifth, to provide a machine of the class described which is very compactin proportion to its capacity and one which is very easily operated.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an end elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 2 withparts broken away to shown certain structural details, a dish beingshown in a machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view, the platform or tablebeing shown in longitudinal section with the parts being shown inactuated position as contrasted to the retracted position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section ona line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 6 with the parts in retractedposition with a dish positioned on the dish holder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of Fig. l at anotherstage or position in the applying of a cover.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on a line corresponding toline 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing the parts in a position in which the coverhas been attached to the dish.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig.3 further illustrating the relation of certain of the parts.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing details of the means foradjusting the table or platform for dishes of varying heights.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the forming jaws of theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified form or embodiment of myinvention adapted for oblong dishes.

y table as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 10-10 of Fig. 9 illustrating the parts in actuatedposition corresponding to that of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the jaw members of theembodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. l2 is a side elevational view of one of the dishes shown in fulllines, other dishes of different heights being indicated by dotted linesto illustrate that the machine is adapted for dishes of varying heights.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a dish and coverfor which the machine illustrated is especially designed.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the frame of the machinecomprises a base 1 and a pedestal 2 overhanging the platform 3 mountedon the base. This platform is primarily designed to facilitate thepositioning of the dishes 4 on the dish holder 5. The platform isprovided with an opening 6 for the dish holder which is provided with afiange engaging the underside of the platform so that in its initial ornormal position the face of the holder is flush with the face of theplatform or The dish 4 illustrated has an outturned rim 8 and the cover9 a downturned flange 10, see Fig. 13. To adapt the machine for dishes0f varying heights the table or platform 3 is mounted for verticaladjustment and is provided with a supporting post 11 adjustablysupported in the post socket 12 in the base.

The adjusting means of the embodiment illustrated comprises the steppedsupport member 13 mounted on the crosspiece 14 carried by the post to beengaged by the lever-like stop or rest 15 which is pivoted on the baseat 16 to be selectively engaged with the steps of the member 13 thussupporting the table or platform at the desired height. The springbiased member 17 engages the lever to yieldingly hold it in engagementwith the member 13. The lever is further supported by the supporting rod18 to sustain the down thrust load of the table or platform. The post 11is Xedly secured in its adjusted position by means of screw 19 threadedinto the post, the base having a vertical slot 20 to receive the screw.

The post has a socket 21 opening at its upper end to receive the shank22 of the dish holder 5. The lower end of the shank is recessed at 23 toreceive the spring 24, see Fig. 1, for yieldingly supporting the dishholder.

This yielding support of the dish holder prevents crushing of the dishas a result of tolerance and other variations in dishes and also yieldsunder certain thrust stresses to which the dish is subjected during theapplication of the cover thereto, compare Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive isadapted for applying covers to round dishes. Figs. 9, 10 and l1illustrate a modification adapted for elongated or oblong dishes. `Thesefigures are included to show that my invention may be adapted to dishesof various shapes and sizes. It is also Well adapted for dishes formedof stock of such gauge to be quite easily distorted, for example, stockcommonly referred to as metal foil. A desirable feature is that thecovers can be securely applied without distorting or rupturing thedishes and covers formed of such stock.

The pedestal 2 is provided with a slideway 25 for the ram 26 which isprovided with a rack coacting with the pinion 27 on the shaft 28. Theshaft is supported in the bearing 29 and provided with an actuating armor lever 30. The ram has a return spring 31 disposed between the top ofthe pedestal and the thrust member- 32 on the ram, see Fig. 1. Thethrust member 32 carries an adjustable stop 33 which coacts with the topof the pedestal to limit the down stroke of the ram.

The outer )head member 34 is .chambered, the chamber being formed in theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive by the depending rim portion35. This rim portion is provided at its lower edge with an annular riblike bearing 36 which serves to rockably and slidably' support the jawmembers 37. The inner head member 38 is disposed within the outer headmember for vertical movement' relative thereto. The inner head member 38has an annular outwardly facing groove like bearing 39 with which thebearings 40 on the jaws are engaged so that vertical movement of thehead members relative to each member swings the jaws to and from workengaging position and moves them slidably relative to the outer bearingmember 36, certain positions of the jaws being illustrated in Figs. 3, 4and 5.

The movement of the inner and outer head members relative to each otherand the cover holding platen 41 which mounted on the inner head memberresults from the operating connections for these parts of each other,will now be described. The inner head member is connected to the annularstop member 42 disposed above the outer head member by the bolts 43arranged through the stop member 4Z and threaded into the inner headmember, spacing sleeves 44 being provided for the bolts.

The stop member 42 is connected to the crosspiece 4S on the pedestal forlimited vertical movement, the crosspiece having holes 46 receiving theheaded bolts 47, the heads 48 of which engage the erosspiece 45 to limitthe downstroke of the inner head member. This not only limits the downstroke of the inner head member but permits relative movement of theinner and outer head members.

Coil springs 49 are arranged in thrust engagement with a thrust member50 provided therefor on the outer head member and are seated at 51 onthe inner head member. The platen 41 is carried by the inner head memberbeing provided with a post 52 disposed through a hole 53 centrally ofthe inner head member. The return biasing spring 55 for the platen isarranged on this post.

This yielding connection for the platen to the inner head member permitsthe actuation of the platen to cover engaging position during a portionof the stroke of the head members. The outer head member is providedwith tappets 56 which engage the platen during the latter portion of thedown or work stroke of the outer head member to thrust the cover flangeinto forming engagement with the upwardly facing downwardly curved faces53 on the jaw tips 59, see Fig. 5. This movement occurs after the innerhead member has reached the limit of its down stroke.

l`he downward movement of the outer head member swings the jaws intoposition to be engaged by the rim (compare Figs. 3 and 4) and thefurther movement of the outer head member carries the platen 41 with itand the ange of the cover, the edges of the rim are rolled into abead-like interlocking engagement, see Fig. 5. Some down thrust isimparted to the dish during this final movement and the dish holderyields to permit that without distortion to the dish.

All that is necessary for the operator to do is to posinon a dish on theholder and position a cover thereon and swing the lever downwardly. Thereturn spring of the ram retracts the parts to the position shown inFig. 3. The table or platform 3 is provided with guides 60 to facilitatepositioning of the dishes upon the dish holder and a sta-ck of dishesmay be placed upon the platform or table. The platform or table isprovided with a discharge chute 61 so that the covered dishes may bepushed onto the chute, illustrated as being partially broken away.

The jaws 37 are, as stated, tiltably and slidably supported by theinwardly facing bearing 36 of the outer head member 35. With the outerhead member in fully retracted position as results from the returnspring of the ram, as shown in Fig. 3 and the inner head member urgeddownwardly by its weight and by the springs 49 the jaws are swung totheir retracted position. Downward movement of the outer head memberswings the jaws to position shown in Fig. 4 in which position the jawsare in operative relation to the flange of the cover. However, the outerjaw member is not at the limit of its down stroke but continued movementthereof actuates the platen to force the cover flange against the jawsand curl or fold it around the dish rim.

in the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and l0 the outer and inner headmembers 62 and 63 respectively are generally oblong in shape. However,the parts are essentially the same as in the previously describedstructure except the head members have at portions 64 and 65respectively and the elongated jaws 66 are provided for coaction withsuch surfaces. The operation is the same as described.

The jaws 37 are preferably shouldered at 67 to minimize friction andthey are provided with stops 68 which engage the coacting stop surfaces69 on the inner head member to limit the outer or retracting swing ofthe jaws` With this arrangement of the parts while the machine ismanually operated and the dishes are manually placed upon the dishholder the operations are very simple and the machine is of largecapacity and at the same time is quite compact. As stated, it is readilyadapted for a considerable variation in the height of the dishes towhich the covers are applied.

I have illustrated and described my invention in two ghighly practicalembodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describeother embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure willenable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as maybe desired.

Having thus described the invention, what 1s claimed as new and isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for applying covers having downturned flanges to disheshaving outwardly projecting rims comprising a base, a platform mountedon said base for vertical adjustment, a spring biased dish holdermounted on said platform for vertical movement relative thereto, apedestal on said base overhanging said dish holder, a ramreciprocatingly mounted on said pedestal, a return spring for said ram,a chambered outer head member mounted on said ram and provided with aninwardly facing con` tinuous jaw bearing, a spring biased inner headmember disposed within and reciprocable relative to said outer headmember and provided with a peripheral continuous outwardly facing groovelike jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work forming jawsrockably and slidably supported by said outer head bearing member andprovided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner headmember, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips with downwardly curvedfaces on their upper sides, a stop member disposed above said outer headmember to coact therewith and connected to said pedestal for limitedvertical movement, said stop member being connected to said inner headmember to limit its downward movement relative to said outer headmember, a cover engaging platen disposed below and mounted on said innerhead member for vertical movement relative thereto, spring means actingto bias said platen against the underside of said inner head member, andthrust members on said outer head member engaging said platen during thelatter part of the down stroke of the outer head member to engage theflange of the cover with the jaws and thereby close the flange aroundthe cover rim, the spring biased dish holder yielding during such latterportion of the stroke and thereby preventing distortion of the dish.

2. A machine for applying covers having downturned anges to disheshaving outwardly projecting rims comprising a base, a dish holdercarried by said base, a pedestal on said base overhanging said dishholder, a ram reciprocatingly mounted on said pedestal, a chamberedouter head member mounted on said ram and provided :assenzel lwith 'aninwardly facing continuous 'jaw bearing inner head member disposedwithin and reciprocable relative to said outer head member and providedwith a peripheral continuous outwardly facing groove like jaw bearing, aplurality of complementary work forming jaws rockably and slidablysupported by said outer head bearing member and provided with bearingscoacting with said bearing of said inner head member, said jaws havinginwardly projecting tips with downwardly curved faces on their uppersides, a stop member disposed above said outer head member to coacttherewith and connected to said pedestal for limited vertical movement,said stop member being connected to said inner head member to limit itsdownward movement relativeto said outer head member, a coverengagingplaten disposed below and mounted on said inner head member for verticalmovement relative thereto, and thrust members on said outer head memberengaging said platen during the latter part of the down stroke of theouter head member to engage the flange of the cover with the jaws andthereby close the flange around the cover rim, the spring biased dishholder yielding during such latter portion of the stroke and therebypreventing distortion of the dish.

3. A machine for applying covers having downturned flanges to disheshaving outwardly projecting rims comprising a frame, a spring biaseddish holder carried by said frame, a chambered outer head memberreciprocably mounted on said frame, an inner head member disposed withinand reciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with anoutwardly facing jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work formingjaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head member andprovided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner headmember, said jaws having inwardly projecting work engaging elements, astop member disposed above said outer head member and connected to saidframe for limited vertical movement, said inner head member beingconnected to said stop member to limit its downward movement relative tosaid outer head member, a cover engaging platen disposed below andmounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relativethereto, spring means acting to bias said platen against the undersideof said inner head member, and means on said outer head member engagingsaid platen during the latter part of the work stroke of the head memberto bring the flange of the cover into forming engagement with the jawsand thereby close the flange around the cover rim, the spring biaseddish holder yielding during such latter portion of the stroke andthereby preventing distortion of the dish.

4. A machine for applying covers having downturned anges to disheshaving outwardly projecting rims comprising a frame, a dish holdercarried by said frame, a chambered outer head member reciprocablymounted on said frame, an inner head member disposed within andreciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with anoutwardly facing jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work formingjaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head member andprovided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner headmember, said jaws having inwardly projecting work engaging elements, astop member disposed above said outer head member and connected to saidframefor limited vertical movement, said inner head member beingconnected to said stop member to limit its downward movement relative tosaid outer head member, a cover engaging platen disposed below andmounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relativethereto, spring means acting to bias said platen against the undersideof said inner head member, and means on said outer head member engagingsaid platen during the latter part of the work stroke of the head memberto bring the flange of the cover into forming engagement with the jawsand thereby close the flange around the cover rim.

5. A machine for applying covers to dishes comprising a frame, a dishholder yeldably carried by the frame, a chambered outer head memberreciprocatably mounted on said frame, an inner head member disposedWithin and reciprocably supported relative to said outer head member, aplurality of work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by saidouter head memberand having fulcruming engagement with said inner headmember, a stop member connected with said inner member for movementtherewith and connected to said frame for limited movement, said outerhead member being in engagement with said stop member when the outerhead member is in retracted position, a cover engaging platen disposedbelow and mounted on said inner head member, means on said outer headmember engaging said platen after the inner head member has reached thelimit of its forward stroke, the relative movement of said inner andouter head members acting to open and close the jaws in timed sequence.

6. In a machine adapted for applying covers having downturned flanges todishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a base providedwith a vertical post socket and having a vertical slot opening to saidsocket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, a platform provided with asupporting post mounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, astepped support member carried by said platform, a spring biased stopmember pivotally mounted on said base to be selectively engaged withsaid stepped support member, a clamping screw vertically slidable insaid slot and having threaded engagement with said post for securing theplatform in adjusted position, said platform having an opening thereinvertically aligned with said post, a dish holder provided with a shankvertically reciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said postto bias said dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being shouldered toengage the platform to normally position the dish holder with its facein the plane of the face of the platform, guides on said platformfacilitating the positioning of a dish on said dish holder, and meansmounted on the pedestal for holding a cover upon and wrapping the flangethereof around the rim of a dish while the dish is supported by saiddish holder.

7. In a machine adapted for applying covers having downturned flanges todishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a base providedwith a vertical post socket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, aplatform provided with a supporting post mounted in said socket forvertical adjustment, means for securing said post in its adjustedposition, said platform having an opening therein vertically alignedwith said post, a dish holder provided with a shank verticallyreciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said post to biassaid dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being shouldered to engagethe platform to normally position the dish holder with its face in theplane of the face of the platform, guides on said platform facilitatingthe positioning of a dish on said dish holder, and means mounted on thepedestal for holding a cover upon and wrapping the ange thereof aroundthe rim of a dish while the dish is supported by said dish holder.

8. In a machine adapted for applying covers to dishes having outwardlyprojecting rims, in combination, a base provided with a vertical postsocket and having a Vertical slot opening to said socket, a pedestaloverhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting postmounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, a stepped support membercarried by said platform, a stop member on said base selectivelyengageable with said stepped support member, a clamping screw verticallyslidable in said slot and having threaded engagement with said post forsecuring the platform in adjusted position, said platform having anopening therein vertically aligned with said post, a dish holderprovided with a shank vertically reciprocable in said post, a springarranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly, said dishholder being provided with a stop to normally position the dish holderwithits face in the plane of the face of the platform, and means mountedon the pedestal for holding a cover upon and Wrapping the flangesthereof around the rims of a dish while the dish is supported by saiddish holder.

9. In a machine adapted for applying covers to dishes having outwardlyprojecting rims, in combination, a hase provided with a vertical postsocket and having a vertical slot opening to said socket, a pedestaloverhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting postmounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, a stop member on saidbase selectively engageable with said stepped support member, a clampingscrew vertically slidable in said slot and having threaded engagementwith said post for securing the platform in adjusted position, saidplatform having an opening therein vertically aligned with said post, adish holder provided with a shank vertically rcciprocable in said post,a spring arranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly,said dish holder being provided with a stop to normally position thedish holder with its face in the plane of the face of the platform, andmeans mounted on the pedestal for holdingl a cover upon and wrapping theanges thereof around the rims of a dish while the dish is supported bysaid dish holder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,787Brewington July 23, 1907k l 2,375,14l Shera May l, 1945 2,688,650 WilsonFeb. 9, 1954

